Z9973Document #: 38-07089 Rev. *D Page 3 of 9
Functional Description
The Z9973 has an integrated PLL that provides low-skew and
low-jitter clock outputs for high-performance microprocessors.
Three independent banks of four outputs as well as an
independent PLL feedback output, FB_OUT, provide excep-
tional flexibility for possible output configurations. The PLL is
ensured stable operation given that the VCO is configured to
run between 200 MHz to 480 MHz. This allows a wide range
of output frequencies up to125 MHz.
The phase detector compares the input reference clock to the
external feedback input. For normal operation, the external
feedback input, FB_IN, is connected to the feedback output,
FB_OUT. The internal VCO is running at multi ples o f the in put
reference clock set by FB_SEL(0:2) and VCO_SEL select
inputs (see Table1). The VCO frequency is then divided to
provide the required output frequencies. These dividers are
set by SELA(0,1), SELB(0,1), SELC(0,1) select inputs (see
Table2). For situations in which the VCO needs to run at
relatively low frequencies and hence might not be stable,
assert VCO_SEL LOW to divide the VCO frequency by 2. This
will maintain the desired output relationships, but will provide
an enhanced PLL lock range.
The Z9973 is also capable of providing inver ted output clocks.
When INV_CLK is asserted HIGH, QC2 and QC3 output
clocks are inverted. These clocks could be used as feedback
outputs to the Z9973 or a second PLL device to generate early
or late clocks for a specific design. This inversion does not
affect the output to output skew.
Zero Delay Buffer
When used as a zero delay buffer, the Z9973 wi ll likel y b e in a
nested clock tree application. For these applications the
Z9973 offers a low-voltage PECL clock input as a PLL
reference. This allows the user to use LVPECL as the primary
clock distribution device to take advantage of its far superior
skew performance. The Z9973 can then lock onto the LVPECL
reference and translate with near-zero delay to low-skew
outputs.
By using one of the outputs as a feedback to the PLL, the
propagation delay through the device is eliminated. The PLL
works to align the output edge with the input reference edge
thus producing near-zero delay. The reference frequency
affects the static phase offset of the PLL and thus the relative
delay between inputs and outputs. Because the static phase
offset is a function of the reference clock, the Tpd of t he Z9973
is a function of the configuration used.
Glitch-Free Output Frequency Transitions
Customarily, when output buffers have their internal counters
changed “on the fly,” their output clock periods will:
1.contain short or “runt” clock periods. These are clock cycles
in which the cycle(s) are shorter in period than either the
old or new frequency to which it is being transitioned.
2.contain stretched clock periods. These are clock cycles in
which the cycle(s) are longer in period than either the old
or new frequency to which it is being transitioned.
This device specifically includes logic to guarantee that runt
and stretched clock pulses do not occur if the device logic
levels of any or all of the following pins changed “on the fly”
while it is operating: SELA, SELB, SELC, and VCO_SEL.
SYNC Output
In situations where output frequency relationships are not
integer multiples of each other, the SYNC output provides a
signal for system synchronization. The Z9973 monitors the
relationship between the QA and the QC output clocks. It
provides a low-going pulse, one period in duration, one period
prior to the coincident rising edges of the QA and QC outputs.
The duration and the placement of the pulse depend on the
higher of the QA and QC output frequencies. The following
timing diagram illustrates various waveforms for the SYNC
output (see Figure1). Note. The SYNC output is defined for
all possible combinations of the QA and QC outputs even
though under some relationships the lower frequency clock
could be used as a synchronizing signal.
Table 2. Frequency Select Inputs
VCO_SEL SELA1 SELA0 QA SELB1 SELB0 QB SELC1 SELC0 QC
0 0 0VCO/80 0VCO/80 0VCO/4
0 0 1VCO/120 1VCO/120 1 VCO/8
0 1 0VCO/161 0VCO/161 0VCO/12
0 1 1VCO/241 1VCO/201 1VCO/16
1 0 0VCO/40 0VCO/40 0VCO/2
1 0 1VCO/60 1VCO/60 1VCO/4
1 1 0VCO/81 0VCO/81 0VCO/6
1 1 1VCO/121 1VCO/101 1 VCO/8
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